Stave-jointing machine



1,645,920- Oct. 18, 1927. R, MILLS STAVE JOINTING MACHINE In/genio@ 0a;l13, 1927; 1,645,920v

` R. MlLLs STAVE JOINTING MACHINE Fi1edNov-12, 1925 5 sheets-sheet zgnam/Hoz' F0 y M/L L5 Matta vwq Oct. 18, 1927.

R. MILLS s'rAvE JOINTING MACHINE` Filed NOV. l2, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3,IAN

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@Wwf/v www@ Oct. 18,1927.

R. MILLS s'zfAvE JOINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. l, 1923 5 sheets-sheet 4 Mfltl'ogucl] Oct. 18, 1921.

1,645,920 R. MILLS STAVE JOINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. l2. 1925 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

YUNITED STATES ROY MILLS, OF CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE.

s'rAvE-Jornrine MAeHrNE.

A.Application led November 12, 1923. Serial No. 674,347.

This invention relates to wood working machinery and the primary objectof the invention isv to provide an improved machine for forming barrellstaves and the like, which is so; constructed as to simultaneously eutboth of the curved longitudinal edges of a barrel stave, properlyproportion the curves ofthe edges to the width of the stave to securethe proper bilge to the barrel. and bevel the edges of. the stave toinsure the proper making of the radial joint between the assembledstaves.

Another prime object of the invention is to provide in a stave formingmachine, novel means includingan eccentrically mounted master bilgewheel for forcing the stave stock between a pair of oppositely inclinedcircular cutting tools, the master bilge wheel insuring the proper taperto ,the stave to secure the bilge of the barrel by raising and loweringthe stave stock between the oppositely inclined tools.

A further prime object of the invention is to provide in a stave formingmachine,

' novel` means for guiding the stave stock through the machine duringthe sawing process and novel means for frictionally holding the stavestock in contact with the master bilge wheel.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved guideand indicator arranged on the stock table for indieating the angle ofinclination and dist-ance between the oppositely inclined circular saws,thereby facilitating the operation of the machine and the'cutting ofthestaves.

A further prime objectv of the invention is to provide novel means forsynchronously adjusting the guide and the saws, whereby the guides orindicators, will at all times indicate the distance between the sawsirrespective of the adjustment thereof.

A further prime object rof the invention is the provision of a latch fornormally holdh ing the master bilge wheel Vin a predetermined position,so that the same will always be in proper position for guiding a newstave stoel; through the niachine, and novel means for insuring theproper position of the bilge wheel in relation to the latch.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved. staveforming machine of the above character, which will be durable andefficient in use. one that will be simple andk easy to manufacture andone which can be placed upon the market ata reasonable cost.

. `With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe improved stave forming machine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation of theimpro-ved machine.

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section through the improved machinetaken on the plane indicated by the line 4 4 in Figure 2 of the drawingsshowing a stave entering and leaving the machine.

Figure la is a diagrammatic view showing the stave being raised forcutting the central portion thereof.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of the table for receivingthe stock, illustrating the means for adjusting the guide and indicator.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section through the table of themachine taken on the line 6 6 of. Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view illus trating the means for mountingone of the traveling nuts on the feed screw or shaft. for bringing aboutthe adjustment of the saws, and

Figure 8 is a detail section through the feed screw or shaft looking ina direction toward oneA of thefeed nuts showingthe means of connectingone adjusting lever with one of the nuts.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter A generally indicates the frame of the improved staveformingmachine; B the table for receiving the stave stock; C the means forcutting the stock; l) the. improved means for insuring the proper taperto the stave to secure the bilge of the barrel; E the novel means forguiding the 'stock ythrough the machine; F the novel guide and indicatorfor indicating at the Atable the distance between the memberscoustituting the cutting mechanism C, and Gr the novel mechanism forsynchronously operating the members constituting the cuttin mec danism.C and the guide and indicator llt The frame A of the machine can bebuilt in any desired way and of suitable timbers and as shown the sameincludes the upright supporting corner standards 10 connected at theirlower ends by longitudinally extending brace beams 11 and at their upperends by longitudinally extending bra-ce beams l2. The corner standards1() which are arranged in transverse alignment are connected together'by upper and lower transverse beams 13 which are also connected to theupper and lower longitudinally extendingbeams 12 and 11. Disposed uponthe upper longitudinally extending beams 12 are a pair of longitudinallyextending spaced sills 1l on which are arranged the various parts of thestave forming machine.

The frame A also preferably includes dia agonally extending brace beams15 which extend downwardly and rearwardly 'from the front pair of cornerstandards l0 which are arranged in transverse alignment to the rear pairof corner standards 10.

The table B for receiving the stave stoel: consists essentially of apair of spaced longitudinally extending supporting bars 1G which extendforwardly from the frame A and these bars 1G are secured in any desiredway to the sills 14 and terminate short of the cutting mechanism C. Thecxtreme rear ends of the bars 1G are connected together by a transverseconnecting end bar 17.' Secured to the upper surface of thetbars 16 adjacont to the outer and inner ends thereof are arranged transverselyextending supporting boards 1S and 19 which carry angle-shapedtransversely extending guides 20. These transverse boards 18 and 19-receive the table top proper for the stock which includes a pair ofmovable table boards 22 and 21 which form a part of the guide andindicating means F, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Thetable beards 21 and 22 carry companion angle-shaped guides for re.ceiving the guide tracks 20. e It thus can be seen that the boards 21and 22 can be slid transversely of the machine relative to one another.A third table board 24 is providefll, which can be rigidly secured tothe supporting boards 18 and 19 if so desired.

The frame A also preferably includes di` circular cutting saws and 2G ofthe desired diameter and these saws are disposed at an inclination toone another and to the longitudinal center of the machine. Each saw ismounted upon a saw mandrel 27 which is rotatably mounted in suitablebearings 28 carried by swinging blocks 30. rlhe blocks 3D are mountedfor swinging movement in suitable brackets 31 carried by each sill 14 ata point intermediate the ends thereof. The outer terminals of the sawmandrel 27 have keyed or otherwise secured thereto suitable vpulleys 32to permit the rotation of the circular saws and 26. These circular saws25 and 26 are disposed adjacent to the longitudinal center of themachine as can be clearly seen by referring to Figures 2 and 3 of thedrawings.

The inner ends of the bearings 28 for the saw mandrels 27 have pivotallyconnected thereto as at 33 the upper ends of bell crank levers 34, whichare pivoted at their angles to suitable brackets 35 connected to blocks36 carried by the frame A. The lower ends of the bell crank levers 34are provided .with yokes 3G for straddling traveling adjusting nuts 37and 38. These traveling adjusting nuts 37 and 38 are provided withoppositely extending pins 39 which are fitted within the slotted ends ofthe yoke 36. These traveling adjusting nuts 37 and 38 are mounted uponthe right and left-hand threaded portions of the adjusting screw 40which is ro-v` tatably mounted in suitable bearings 41 carried by blocks42 which can be securedto the diagonal brace beams 15 of the frame A. Itis obvious that by rotating the feed screw 40 the traveling nuts 37 and38 can be moved toward or awa-y from each other according to thedirection of rotation of the said feed screw and the movement ofthetraveling nuts will change the inclination and the distance between thecircular saws 25 and 26. This feed screw 40 is operated by the means Gfor simultaneously adjusting the position of the saws 25 and 26 and theguide means F, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

y The means D utilized for insuring the proper cutting of the stavestock by the saws 25 and 26 comprises a master bilge wheel 45 which iseccentrically mounted on a rotatable shaft 46. This shaft 46 isrotatably mounted in suitable bearings 47 which can be mounted upon theblocks 36. New it can be seen that the greatest distance between thesaws 25 and 26 is adjacent to the upper end thereof and thus to cut thewidest portion of the stave, the same will necessarily have to belift-ed adjacentto the upper ends of the saws. `The master bilge wheel45 has its axis located forwardlyfof and below the axis of the saws 25and26, but a portion of the wheel extends between the saws at all times,as can be clearly seen by referring to Figures 2 and of the drawings.Now when the master bilge wheel 45 is at its lowest point. it is obviousthat the narrowest point of the staves will be cutA The inclination ofthe saws 25 and 26 also provide the bevel on the edges of the staves,which issnecessary, as well known to persons skilled in the art.

The stave stock is adapted to be fed through the machine by novelguiding meansy end that the wheel 45 will have completed one completerevolution when a-V stave has passed through the machine. It isnecessary to have the lower point of the' master bilge wheel 45 normallyuppermost, so that the narrow frontr portion of the.A stave will be cutfirst andL in order to insure that the lowest point of the wheel will bedisposed uppermost, a suitable latch mechanism is provided. This latchmechanism can be of any preferred character or located at any desiredpoint, but as shownv inthe drawings, I'have provided adetent 47 which ispivotally mounted at a point intermediate its ends upon a supportingbracket 48. This detent is provided with ahooked end 49 which isnormally urged into engagement with the periphery ofthe wheel45 by meansof a suitable weight or the like 50. A notch l is formed in theperiphery of the wheel directly opposite the low point of the cam andthehooked end of the detent is adapted to fit withiny the notch. The wheelforwardly of the not-ch 51 is weighted as at 52, and this weightedportion of the wheel normally tends to move the notch directly above thedetent. Now the weighted portion 52 of the wheel 45 and the latchfunction in the following way. Then the stock is fed through the machineonto the periphery of the eccentricallymounted master bilge wheel 45,the same will be rotated and as the circumference thereof is slightlyless than the length of the stave being formed, the notch 5l will bemoved past the detent 47. y Now when the stave has passed through themachine, the weighted portion 52 of the wheel will tend to rotate thesame in a retrograde directionand when the detent 47 snaps into thenotch 5l, further rotation of the wheel will be prevented and the Wheelwill be held in its normal position.

In order that the stock be held in frictional contact with the peripheryofthe eccentrically mounted master bil ge wheel 45, a weightedtransversely extended roller 55 is provided. The terminals of the'roller55 are provided with pintles 56, which are rotatably mounted in suitablebearing blocks 57, which are hingedly 'connected to supporting blocks58, as at 59. The supporting blocks 58 are disposed upon the uppersurfaceof the beams 16 of the table B directly forward of the saws 25and 26.

The guiding means E for insuring the correct passage of the stockthrough the machine includes pairs of rollers. arranged in front of theweighted roller 55 and pairs of rollers disposed in rear of the sawblades 25 and 26'. The front pairs of rollers are mountedone in front ofthe other on the bars 16 oftheY table B. Each pair of the front rollersincludes a lower roller64 and an upper spring pressed roller 6.5 and thestock is adapted to travel between the--upper andi lowery rollers 64land 65 of the front pairs' of rollers. It can be. seen that the upperVrollersf65 of the'front pairs of'rollers have theirV pintlesrotatablymounted in suitable blocks 66, which arek slidably mountedwithin the bearing brackets and the blocks are engaged by expansionsprings 67.

rIhe rear pairs of guiderollers' are construct'ed substantially the sameas thev front pairs'of guide rollers with the exceptionthat the rearmostpair of guide rollers' is located slightly above the'inncrmost pair ofthe rear pairs-of guide rollers in order to receive the front of thestave, as'the. same is raised by themaster l'iilge` wheel. Each of therear pairs of guide rollers includes a lower rotatable roller 68 and anupper slidingy and rotatable'roller 69. Bearing brackets 70l areprovided for the rollers; whichY are mounted upon suitable blocks/7lsecured to the sills 14. The pintlesrof the upper rollers 69 are mountedin sliding blocksA 72'andexpansion springs 73 bear against the blocksfor normally holding the rollers 69 in engagement withv the lowerrollers 68.` The tension of the springs 78 can be adjusted by anypreferred means.

As the stock is cut bythe saws 25 and 26, the same is guided into thefirst pair of the rear pairs of rollers byl suitable guide pieces 7 4.These vguide pieces 74 are of a: substanf tially arcuate shape-and arearranged one on each side of the outer faces of the saw blades 25 andA2.6 andV are secured to any preferred part of the. frame A by the uselofi suitable supportingv brackets. The guide pieces 7.4 gradually curveupwardly and rearwardly to a point substantially between the upper andlower rollers 69 and. 68 of the first pair of the rear pairs of rollers.

The front and rear pairs of rollers are driven: synchronously by meanswhich will now be described?. A drive shaft 75 is rotatably mounted onthe frame A and this shaft can be operated from any suitable sourceofrpower andv is provided with a balance and drive wheel 76. This driveshaft is operatively c-onnected tothe lowermost roller 64 ofthe firstpair of front rollersby means of a sprocket chain 77 which is trainedabout the wheels 78 and 79. These wheels are keyedl or otherwise securedrespectively to. the shaft. 75 and to one pintle ofthe lower roller 64.The upper and lower rollers 64- and 65 of the first pair of frontrollers are operatively connected by intermeshing pinions keyedrespectively to the pintles of the said upper and lower rollers 64 and65. The lower rollers of the front pairs of the rollers are operativelyconnected throughv thefmedium ofthe sprocket chain 81, which is trainedabout the sprocket wheels 82 keyed respectively to the said lowerrollers 64.. The front pair of the rear pairs of rollersare driventhrough the medium ot the sprocket.y chain 83 which is trained aboutsprocketwheels 84rkeyed respectively to the upper roller 65 of the firstpair of trout roller-sand the upper rollers G9 ol the rearmost pair ofthe rear pairs of rollers.

The upper and lower rollers 69 and 68 of the rearmost pair of the rearpairs of rollers are operatively connected together by means ofintermeshing pinions 85, which are keyed respectively to the saidrollers 09 and 68. The lower rollers ot the rear pairs ot rollers areoperatively connected tothe medium ot a sprocket chain 86, which istrained about the sprocket wheels Si' keyed respectively to the pintlesot the lowr rollers 68 of the. rear pairs ot' rollers.

The guiding and indicating means F for the stock disposed upon the tableB consists of a gage plate 90 which is disposed at one longitudinal edgeot' the table board 21 and the gage plate 90 is pivotally connected tothe table board 21 through themedium ot' weighted arms 91 which arepivoted intermediate their ends to brackets 92 secured to the lowersurface of the table board 21. An indicating pointer 93 is carried bythe table board 22 and the point ot this pointer 93 is in directalignment with the right-hand saw 26 while the gage plate 90 is indirect alignment with the left-hand saw The table boards 21 and 22,carrying the gage plate 90 and the indicating finger 9?, are adjustedthrough the medium of a leed screw 94 which is rotatably mounted insuitable bearings 95 carried by a. cross brace bar 96. This cross bracebar 96 is held in place by suitable depending hangers or straps 97 whichare secured to the inner faces ot the longitudinally extending beams 16ot the table B. By referringr to Figures 5 and 6 it can be seen that thefeed screw 94 is provided both with right and lett-hand threads and thatright and left-hand traveling nuts 98 and 99 are mounted upon the feedscrew. The traveling nuts 9S and 99 have secured thereto supporting arms100 and 101 respectively and the arms 100 and 101 are in turnlrespectively secured to the table boards 21 and 22. By rotating the feedscrew it can be seen that the table boards 21 and 22 can be moved towardand away from each other according to the direction of rotation oi saidfeed screw and that the gage plate 90 and indicating linger 93 canconsequently be moved toward and away from each other.

The means G tor bringing about the synchronous operation of theindicating means F and the saw blades 25 and 26 comprises an inclinedoperating shaft 102, which is mounted in suitable bearings carried bythe table top and frame A. One end ot the shaft 102 is provided with ahand-controlled wheel 103 which permits the easy rrotation of saidshaft. This handwheel 103 is located adjacent to the forward end ot thetable B. A beveled gear 104 is keyed to the shaft 102 and meshes with a.beveled gear 105 keyed or otherwise secured to the Yteed screw 9&1.Adjacent to the rear end of the controlled shaftt 102 is keyed orotherwise secured thereto a beveled gear 106 which meshes with a beveledgear 107 keyed or otherwise secured to the feed screw 40 for the saws.

By this construction it is obvious that any change in the position ofthe saw will be shown on the table top through the medium of the gageplate 90 and the indicating tinger 93. A scale is not shown on thetableboard 21 to indicate the amount of separation of the 'saws but `ascale maybe used if desired. This distance is determined by the eye, orby the use of a. suitable measuring instrument.

In operation, the stock to be cut is placed on the table top B againstthe gage plate 90 and the hand-wheel 103 is turned so as to adjust thesaws to the size ot the stock and tor the end width of the stave to becut. The machine is now set in'operation and the stock is fed throughthe pairs of rollers 60 and G1 by hand and under the weighted roller andon top of the master bilge wheel 45. The rollers will now effectivelyleed the staves forwardly and the saws 25 and 26 will commence cuttingthe staves. As thc stave is ted through the machine the master bilgewheel 4:5 willbe turned which will gradually raise the stock` and thuspermit the saws to cut the widest portion thereot. After the bilge wheelhas made one half of a revolution Ithe stock will then be graduallyylowered and thus the saws will cut the tapered rear end thereof. As thestock leaves the saws, the same will be guided to the first pair of rearrollers through the medium ot the guides 74 and thence out ot themachine by the rear pair of rollers. IVhen the stock leaves thesaws, thebilge wheel will have made slightly more than one revolution and theweighted portion thereof will rotate the bilge wheel slightly in aretrograde position until the latch engages the notch therein. whichwill hold the bilge wheel in its normal position for engaging the nextpiece of stock to be cut.

From the lforegoing description.y it can be seen that I have provided anexceptionally simple and durable inachine't'or effectively making barrelstaves and the like which will give the correct curvature to thelongitudinal edges of the stave and the proper bevel thereon.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or thescope of this invention. y

that I claim as new is:

l. In a stave forming machine, a frame,

right and left-hand threads formed thereon,

traveling nuts mounted upon the right and left-hand threads, meansconnecting the low er ends of the bell crank levers to the nuts, a tablefor initially receiving the stave stock .secured to the frame includinga pair of sliding table boards, a gage plate carried by one table boardnormally in alignment with one saw blade and an indicating fingercarried by the other table. boar-d normally in alignment with the othersaw blade, a second feed screw having right and lefthand threads formedthereon, traveling nuts mounted upon the right and left-hand threads ofthe second mentioned feed screw, arms rigidly connecting the boards withthe last mentioned nuts, an operating shaft rotatably carried by theframe, an'd a handwheel carried by one end of the shaft, and beveledgearing operatively connecting the shaft to both of said feed screws, asand for the purpose specified.

2. In a stave forming machine, a frame and a pair of angularly relatedcircular saws, blocks pivotally secured to the frame for suppo-rting thesaws, a table arranged in front of the saws for initially receiving thestave stock secured to the frame including a pair of sliding tableboards, a gage plate carried by one table board normally in alinementwith one saw blade and an indicating finger carried by the other tableboard normally in alinement with the other saw blade, a'transverselyextending feed screw having right and left hand threads formed thereon,travelling vnuts mounted upon the right and left hand threads of thefeed screw, arms rigidly connected to the boards and with the nuts, alongitudinally extending operating shaft rotatably carried by the frame,bevel gearing operatively connecting the operating shaft with the screw,means operatively connecting the operating shaft with the supportingblocks for the saws, and means for actuating said operating shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' ROY MILLS.

